Boxers set bold goal: six-gold sweep

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines is sending a full deck of boxers built to sweep the gold medals in the 29th Southeast Asian Games.

There are only six weight categories in the Kuala Lumpur SEAG next month and Abap executive director Ed Picson said they’re fielding in a complete lineup headed by lightwelter weight Charly Suarez, middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial and bantamweight Mario Fernandez.

Flyweight Ian Clark Bautista, light heavyweight John Marvin and light-flyweight Carlo Paalam are also expected to vie for the golds after Abap president Ricky Vargas had told the team that losing would definitely be unacceptable.

“Our president said there’s no excuse for failure. We gave all the things that the boxers needed plus the sufficient exposure,’’ said Picson during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel.

Bautista and Fernandez captured gold medals in the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.

“We’re hoping that since everything is being done properly, our boxers and coaches will deliver,’’ said Picson.